Lori Reacts to the Pope's Comments

Pope Francis offered an olive branch of sorts to the doctrine-minded, conservative wing of the Catholic Church on Friday as he denounced abortions as a symptom of today's "throw-away culture" and encouraged Catholic doctors to refuse to perform them.

Francis issued a strong anti-abortion message and cited Vatican teaching on the need to defend the unborn during an audience with Catholic gynecologists.

It came a day after he was quoted as blasting the church's obsession with "small-minded rules" that are driving the faithful away. In an interview that has sent shockwaves through the church, Francis urged its pastors to focus on being merciful and welcoming rather than insisting only on such divisive, hot-button issues as abortion, gay marriage and contraception.

"I think what the Holy Father is doing is issuing an open invitation to those who come to church every sunday to open their hearts to Christ," said Baltimore Archbishop William Lori.

Lori said the Pope's comments are directed at those who don't go to Mass anymore or who maybe have fallen away from the Church. He also said the comments were an 'open invitation' to return.

"What he is doing is giving wonderful support to the Archdiocese in Baltimore to re-evangelize," he said.